HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), and labor allies today demonstrated at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to protest protracted negotiations with Hawaiian Airlines management for a new contract.

“Hawaiian Airlines is successful and growing, in large part due to previous sacrifices and persistent work of Flight Attendants on the front lines. Two years of negotiations is too long to negotiate a new contract that reflects our contributions and hard work,” said Sharon Soper, AFA Hawaiian President. “Flight Attendants turned out in force today on the picket line demonstrating our unity and resolve to fight for fair wages, better retirement security and continued job protections that define our work.”

Hawaii ranks among the highest cost of living for any U.S. state. Hawaiian Flight Attendant pay has fallen in comparison with the rest of the industry while the cost of living and medical expenses continue to rise. After twenty years of calm labor relations, Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants are taking their fight for a contract public.

“The opportunities for our airline and our state are extraordinary right now. Management needs to remove distractions and get serious about making Hawaiian everything it can be. That starts with negotiating a contract that gives those of us on the frontlines all we need to do our jobs and share in the profits we help create. We are done with delay tactics. Public protest will continue as we turn up the heat all summer long and until we get this done,” Soper said.

The Association of Flight Attendants represents 50,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines including those at Hawaiian Airlines.

###

The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 73 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.